Bible Word Study
חַכְמוֹנִי
Chakmôwnîy · Chakmoni, an Israelite
חַכְמוֹנִי
Chakmoni, an Israelite
Definition
Chakmoni is a proper name meaning 'the wise one' or 'skillful,' derived from the Hebrew root for wisdom. It refers to a specific individual, Jehiel, the son of Hachmoni, who served in King David's administration (1 Chronicles 27:32). In 1 Chronicles 11:11, the term appears as 'Hachmonite,' describing Jashobeam, one of David's mighty men, suggesting it might also function as a gentilic or family designation. The word consistently denotes a person associated with wisdom or skill, either as a personal name or a descriptor of lineage.
Biblical Usage
The term is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in 1 Chronicles. In 1 Chronicles 11:11, it appears as 'Hachmonite' (חַכְמֹנִי) in the list of David's mighty men, referring to Jashobeam. In 1 Chronicles 27:32, it is used as a personal name for 'Jehiel the son of Hachmoni' (יְחִיאֵל בֶּן־חַכְמוֹנִי), who served as a counselor to David's sons. The usage indicates it could function as both a family name and a personal name within the context of David's court.
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root חָכַם (chakam, H2449), meaning 'to be wise' or 'skillful.' The suffix -oni typically forms gentilics or adjectives, suggesting 'Chakmoni' means 'the wise one' or 'belonging to the wise.' It is related to the common Hebrew word for wisdom, חָכְמָה (chokmah, H2451), emphasizing skill, prudence, or expertise.
Semantic Range
While primarily a proper name, Chakmoni's connection to the root for wisdom subtly highlights the value of skill and wise counsel in Israel's leadership, as seen in David's administration. It reflects the biblical ideal that governance benefits from divinely inspired wisdom (Proverbs 8:15-16). Understanding this root enriches the reading of 1 Chronicles by emphasizing that David's supporters were not only mighty in war but also characterized by practical wisdom. In ancient Israelite culture, names often conveyed meaningful attributes or hopes. 'Chakmoni' as a name or family designation would have signaled an association with wisdom—a highly prized virtue in ancient Near Eastern societies, especially for royal advisors and skilled warriors. This differs from modern names, which are often chosen for sound rather than meaning. חָכָם (chakam, H2450) — a general term for a wise person; חָכְמָה (chokmah, H2451) — the abstract noun for wisdom or skill; בִּין (biyn, H995) — to understand or discern, focusing on perception rather than practical skill.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]